The Saints will take on the Bombers in Morwell on March 7 in what will be Essendon's first official pre-season match of 2015. Essendon announced on Tuesday they had signed former AFL players Clint Jones, Mitch Clisby, Jared Petrenko, James Magner and Mitch Brown as top-ups to fill a side decimated by the absence of 2012-listed players, with 17 of the 25 provisionally suspended pending a decision in the AFL anti-doping tribunal hearings.

"Some of the names that have been mentioned in the paper and are clearly committed to being there and to play will be good, strong opposition for us."

The game at the Morwell recreation reserve will be the Saints' second game of the NAB Challenge, with the 2014 wooden spooners opening their campaign against the Brisbane Lions in Moreton Bay on Saturday week. Richardson flagged that St Kilda would bring a relatively strong lineup to Gippsland.

"We'll be looking to field a fairly strong, competitive team," he said.

The coach also suggested that No.1 draft pick Paddy McCartin was a chance to play in the pre-season series.

"He's preparing really well. If he was sitting here he'd certainly be putting his hand up. The reality is that we'll make a decision on the team and if he's in really good form," he said. "If he's got a really good understanding of the game plan, if physically he's in good enough shape to execute his role without any compromise to his long-term, then absolutely he'll play."